Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks (1743 – 1820) was a key player in the movement of plants in the 1700s. He was born in London, England to wealthy parents, and developed an interest in botany when he was 14. He collected local plant specimens, and learned all he could from the local women who collected herbs. He was sent to Oxford for formal schooling. Bank’s father died in 1761 when he was 18. At 21 Banks inherited great wealth, but determined to put it to good use in pursuit of his interests.

Joseph Banks (photograph of a painting by Joshua Reynolds)

While at Oxford, Banks met Linnaeus apostle Daniel Carl Solander, who had been sent to London in 1760 to catalog the garden of Peter Collinson, and then accepted an assistant’s post at the British Museum. Banks and Solander became friends and colleagues. Instead of taking “The Grand Tour of Europe” that was popular with young men of his class, Banks went on a fishery protection patrol in Newfoundland and Labrador, and collected live and dried plant specimens.

Solander introduced Banks to the scientific community in London. At the age of 23, Banks was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Banks promoted the idea of accompanying Captain James Cook on his first voyage of geographical and scientific exploration, and joined the expedition as chief naturalist at the age of 25. He funded additional artists, botanists, and scientists to join, including Solander. Between 1768 and 1771 the HMS Endeavor visited Africa, South America, New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti. They made many scientific discoveries, and collected many plant specimens.

Banksia ericifolia native to Australia

Upon return to London in 1771, Banks became President of the Royal Society, and worked with King George III to expand Kew Gardens. Through his influence and means, Banks sent botanists and collectors all over the world; commissioned botanical artists; corresponded with scientists and botanists; and added to the collections at Kew Gardens and the British Museum. His plant and geographical knowledge enabled him to consult on many projects, including the ideas to transport breadfruit to the West Indies on the HMS Bounty, and establish a penal colony at Botany Bay in Australia. Banks knew many influential people of his day, including Ben Franklin in America, and Carl Linnaeus in Sweden. He is honored with a genus of plants named after him, Banksia.